Thousands forced to flee

500 homes gone in San Diego alone

SAN DIEGO — Southern California's firestorms showed no sign of abating Monday, burning hundreds of homes and prompting massive evacuations. San Diego County authorities warned more than 250,000 households to evacuate; thousands took refuge at Qualcomm Stadium, home to the NFL's Chargers, and other sites.

Fire officials were stretched to their limits trying to cope with the wind-whipped blazes that burned more than 100,000 acres, or about 156 square miles. More than 500 homes and 100 businesses were reported destroyed in the San Diego area alone.

Health officials urged the young, the elderly and those with breathing difficulties to remain indoors as fires polluted the air with smoke, gas and dust. Communities affected ranged from south of San Diego to Malibu to east of San Bernardino

"This is a major emergency," Ron Roberts, chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, said.

One of the most ominous fronts was in the Lake Arrowhead area east of Los Angeles, where flames swept out of control through forested resort areas. The count of destroyed structures rose to as many as 128, and thousands more were threatened.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger toured some of the damaged areas Monday and directed the California National Guard to make 1,500 Guardsmen available to be deployed as needed. They would join approximately 7,500 firefighters already working the lines -- a figure officials said would increase as more units arrived from Northern California. At least one person was killed and dozens were injured.

Schools that remained open were being encouraged to limit or cancel outdoor activities such as physical education. Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernardino Counties issued health alerts.

"Small air particles carrying through Los Angeles County can have adverse health effects, and will be particularly unhealthful for sensitive individuals," said Jonathan Fielding, director of the county's Department of Public Health.

San Diego emergency officials estimated that more than 250,000 households had been told to evacuate through the "reverse 911" system. At two people per household, that would be nearly 500,000 people, although it was unknown how many responded to the evacuation call.

The number of evacuations rose steadily throughout the day. Five American Red Cross shelters were jammed, and thousands flocked to Qualcomm Stadium and the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Marine officials at Camp Pendleton opened their base to residents. Many hotels reported 100 percent occupancy.

But there were pockets of resistance as some homeowners opted to stay put.

Near Westwood, a community on the western edge of the Rancho Bernardo neighborhood of San Diego, Officer Jay Odom of the San Diego Police Department was working hard to get everyone out, and then keep them out until the fire passed.

But inside the first house on the first block past Odom's checkpoint, Muhammed Ashtari, 21, an earnest college student and aspiring pharmacist -- and, as of this spring, a first-time homeowner -- paced in his living room. The two men spoke just once, when Ashtari ventured briefly outside.

"You'd better get out," Odom told him.

"I'm going to be staying here," Ashtari replied.

What resulted, over the course of the day, was a standoff with Ashtari, a native of Iran who came to the U.S. as a boy, keeping watch for embers on his four-bedroom home.

"I don't want to be somewhere far away and find out that something has happened to the house," he said. "Here, I can do something."

The firefighters were fighting 70 m.p.h. winds and new fires across the region.

"We have more houses burning than we have people and engine companies to fight them," San Diego Fire Capt. Lisa Blake said. "A lot of people are going to lose their homes."

The state's major insurers began rounding up personnel from offices around the country to handle what could be thousands of claims.

The same bus is expected Tuesday at an evacuation center near Qualcomm Stadium. The state's largest home insurer -- State Farm General Insurance Co. -- also is "in the early stages of mobilization," said spokesman Bill Sirola.

State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner called the dozens of fires a "perfect storm," and added, "I'm sure there will be very sizable losses. That's why insurance companies collect premiums over a long period of time."

The so-called Witch Fire, the largest of San Diego County's fires, moved south into the city of San Diego through the San Pasqual Valley, heading toward the Wild Animal Park. The park evacuated its staff to the San Diego Zoo, and some animals were moved to a fire-resistant hospital on the park property.

"There are lots of ponds for the animals to retreat to," a Wild Animal Park spokesman said. The park has fire breaks around its perimeter, and the fire has not entered the park.

At Mira Mesa High School in San Diego, about 1,150 people sought shelter. Outside was a board where people left urgent messages:

"Peyton Quin, AJ is in panic and needs you."

"Don't give up hope, I thought my house was gone and I was wrong."

"Joan Rose your family is looking for you. We are here!"

Supplies of dog food were piled outside. Inside, people packed the gymnasium, where 1,000 cots sat. More than 100 people huddled in front of a 24-inch television.

Steve Schweitzer, a Red Cross spokesman and a former Marine who recently fought in Iraq, said he set up the shelter.

"We have people from all demographics, all walks of life, race, creed, you name it," Schweitzer said. "What we have here right now is a 1,150-person small town that has sprouted after this disaster."